How's this for tardiness? My 20 for the Col.

A wine cooler from Finland (see avatar pic) and the lack of such a majestic beast from the ultra trail running scene - Caballo was taken, Speedgoat too, Deer too.

In the world of ultras, when they’re run on a trail

Many beasts abound, you must have heard the tale

Of a Deer, a Speedgoat and a Horse – but never a Moose

And that’s my name, whether I hike, run or simply cruise.

2. A/S/L/F (age, sex, location, family)?

45, male last time I checked. I live in the outskirts of Milan, one hour away from my beloved Alps and its beautiful peaks and countless cowpats. I share a bed with haughty Scot noblewoman wife Countess FiFi "The Fearless" of the Bonnie Bonnie Banks of the Mighty Firth of Clyde.

Nine full scores, that’s how old this boy’s come to be

Breathing the Alps’ thin air in the breeze

I cannot be alone, so I got a wife so aristocratic

That I’m chained in the basement, she dwells in the attic.

3. When is your Loopiversary (date of your first blog on the Loop)?

Sometime in September 2009, after almost no lurking. I think it was a bloop about me running while on holiday in NYC and noticing how basically no other runner in Central Park was acknowledging me or returning my "hi"s. It elicited one comment, I think. It still made my day.

Long have gone the days of 2 thousand and nine

When I logged on the Loop and wrote my first line

Almost nobody read it, it was left in the dark

And shunned, like a hapless Italian runner in central Park.

4. How long have you been running?

I started on Sep 8th, 2008 with a one-minute-jog-one-minute-walk-and-repeat routine on a bike path, which lasted 16 minutes in total. Never stopped since.

It’s not been too long, only 6 years ago

That I decided to run, to give it a go

Jog and then walk, catch your breath and repeat

I finally found a good use for my feet.

5. What is your favorite distance to race?

I have only ever run one 100-miler (105 actually), but the allure of this distance is almost magical and I like to think it's my ideal playground. Provided there are a lot of uphills where I can walk, of course.

Races are long, they come in all shapes and sizes

One tries them all, but suddenly realizes

That the best is 100, it’s the perfect ultra number

The one I wish for, whether awake or when I slumber.

6. Do you belong to a local running club?

Yes, but only half-heartedly - I pay my yearly fee but hardly ever show up at group meetups. They are more road-inclined, while I stay away from pavement as much as possible. My real running club is my group of trail friends (I regularly train with them).

I run in a group, but I feel a bit out of place

That is why I rarely show my trail-running face

I reserve it for my mountain hopping bros

With them I’m relaxed, I’m so happy as anything goes.

7. Have you ever been to a Loopmeet or Loopfest?

Aye. I had many Loopmeets while traveling through the US (for holidays or business). I also attended the wonderful WV Loopfest, twice. Every meetup or Loopfest has been a joy for my heart... I have found some wonderful "real" friends through the Loop and the next meetup can't come soon enough. Hopefully this coming fall. I could go on with Loopsters I have never met and I look forward to meet, but I don't want to forget anyone!

My friends from the Loop, so many I have met

On several occasions, how could I forget.

But the nicest memories, the ones I remember best

It’s from when I attended the mighty Loopfests.

8. Have you ever lost a toenail?

Loads of them - even though I trim them carefully before long runs or races. I removed one from my right foot this very morning. Very satisfying indeed.

I trim my toenails carefully, I really do my best,

But running downhill is a terrible test

Terrain is so harsh, it shreds them with violence

What will I do with’em? I’ll donate them to science.

9. What is your favorite post-race treat?

Ideally it would be chocolate ice cream, but they aren't always available close to trail ultra finishes. So beer is second best. A close second, mind you. I actually wouldn't mind one right now.

Luckily Countess FiFi knows what I need when I finish my races and she's always ready to greet me with some liquid gold at the finish line.

Ice cream, though seldom found after trail races

Is always a winner, like a poker of aces

Rehydration is crucial, and this knows my FiFi dear

She gives me a kiss, then hands me a beer.

10. What one piece of running gear is your must-have item?

An (undisclosed) length of TP for those looooooong runs in the woods. Never underestimate the peristaltic effect on the bowels of those bouncy downhills.

Maybe it’s my innards, maybe my running style

But in those fields the soil isn’t always fertile

So I let’er rip, and clean myself with paper

Sow the seeds now, reap the fruits later.

11. What socks do you wear when running?

I have no preferences, really. While I lose lots of toenails, I rarely get any blisters, so I am not too fussy when it comes to choosing running socks. I actually once forgot my running socks for a trail outing, so I used my thin, knee-length work ones (actually I rolled them down). They still did the job.

A runner’s got to be creative, think out of the box

So ponder quickly, if you forget your socks

I could use jute, wool or even cotton

My feet are so lucky, they never get rotten.

12. How do your knees feel?

Right now? Great! - touch wood. But I don't really mind the occasional ache or pain, it means my body is alive and kicking.

“If you run so much, you’ll ruin your knees!”

The so-called experts say when they’re out on a tease

Fact is – I barely notice any pain at all

Shut up, you ignorant fool. Shall I call you a troll?

13. If you could go to any one running destination/event, where.what would you chose?

Until 2013 it would have been UTMB in Chamonix, France. But last year that dream became a reality... so right now I would say Western States 100 or Hardrock 100. I actually can get in the lottery for the latter, so I will give it a try come October. I do know chances to be picked are pretty slim, but one can dream, right?

Some dream of richness, some dream of romance

But my dreams don’t take such a stance

I dream of mountains, rocky trails and pure bliss

Thunderstorms, lost ways and finally a rock to kiss

14. Hot or cold--which is worse to run in?

Hot - but then again in Italy we don't get winters that are as cold as the ones some areas of the US and Canada have to endure, so I reserve the right to change my mind at some point.

Some thrive in the cold, some thrive in the heat

I belong to the former, I like snow and sleet

But our winters are tame, that is the Europeans’ fate

I believe the worst of winters belong to the United States.

15. If you have a running inspiration or mentor, who is it?

Outside of the Loop, my pal Roberto. Apart from being one of my best friends, he is a very accomplished trail runner, twice a finisher of the Tor des Gèants. As the Loop goes, I have to go with come_on_now. Her mountain adventures are always in the most fantastic, idyllic sceneries; plus I am always in awe of Senior Runner and Atombuddy. How can anyone not be inspired by such great runners – and fantastic storytellers too?

They say that running is blood, tears and perspiration

So who do I turn to for bouts of inspiration?

At home it is my friend of many a trail miles

And three from the Loop – yet no one from the British isles.

16. What is your running mantra? (If your answer is "I have no mantra" or something lame like that, you must answer "Da do run, run, run. Da do run, run")

I have no set mantra; however, in times of dire needs in ultras I have turned to prayer to get me through those tough times.

I don’t think of much when I run, don’t get me wrong

Brain conjures up ditty, a joke, most often a song

But when going gets hard and fatigue extraordinary

I found most useful to recite the Hail Mary.

17. Are there any other runners in your family?

A couple of my cousins are competent (road) runners – they are both faster than me. I blame it on their younger age.

Running is not for us, not ingrained in our genes

We were born to raise vineyards, and plants sprouting beans

But strange things do happen, even to our stock

A couple of us have made it – once or twice – around the block.

18. Roads or trails?

Pavement is the bane of my existence. Enough said.

Many a song were written about the toil on the road

Training books and theories to lessen the training load

But me, I prefer cowpats, hills, bushes thorny and nature

The mountains, bruises, scratches and all those wild creatures.

19. What's the funniest thing that has ever happened to you on a run?

I remember this one time during an ultra race, I was badly in need of a toilet to empty my bowels. Of course, being out in the boonies the nearest toilet was behind a bush. After a bit of looking around, I found a truly perfect spot for such intimate connection with nature. It was almost too perfect. In fact, as soon as I squatted, I noticed some movement with the corner of my eye. Some other runner, only a few feet away, was already squatted and trying to relieve himself too! Goodness. I mumbled something and found another bush.

Tales are so many, they abound on the Loop,

About detouring a run, in order to poop.

Found the perfect bush, but I must’ve been too brazen

‘cos the ultimate toilet was already taken.

20. What is your most memorable running moment?

I guess finishing UTMB last year was something special. Hopefully it will be surpassed by a finish at the Tor des Gèants in a few days! Fingers crossed…

Good luck in the race. I remember when your bloops were on the left side, and the suddenly you were promoted and your bloops were on the right! (About a day later, they changed the format, and there was no left and right anymore.)

I am very honoured to get a shout out in your bloop. I am determined to take a trip across the pond to run along some your mountain trails, but DH is still in school and that makes finances a little tricky. Someday...

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